While worship is a focal point for any church, the Rev. Millard Southern III, 36, wants to inspire a congregation that is also fired up to help their community. As the newest pastor of the Franklin African Methodist Episcopal Church clergy, Southern said this is one of his goals as he takes on the role.

Southern grew up on the south side of Chicago, where his grandfather and father, also named Millard Southern, served their communities behind the pulpit. Watching them preach, Southern became inspired to follow in their footsteps.

“I couldn’t really run from it,” Southern joked.

He added that both his grandfather and father used church as a pillar to help their community.

“Just being around church all the time and seeing them give back to the community allowed me to kind of find my own voice being around that environment,” Southern said.

Southern said he liked the welcoming environment of Niles and was ready to make the career move from the Windy City to the City of Four Flags. Southern replaced the Rev. Rebecca Mitchell, who retired from the role.

Southern studied to be a pastor at Union Theological Seminary from 2007 to 2010 in Manhattan, he earned his master’s in divinity. His work with Franklin AME is his first appointment as a pastor.

In the months ahead, Southern said he is hoping to bring a fresh voice to the congregation, and will help to inspire people to lend a helping hand.

“Nowadays we experience a detachment from our responsibility to the community, and what we should be about as servants of God.”

Growing up in the church, Millard said he appreciated the sense of community he felt at church.

He also said he loved the moment when everyone got together to forget the week’s problems and sing a song.

“The music itself is so emotional and high-spirited that the significance of that tradition is the ability to find joy in the midst of suffering,” Southern said. “And to find complete joy and come alive in the midst of whatever suffering you are experiencing throughout the week.”

When it comes to helping the community, Southern thought being a church leader would give him a networking system to reach those that may need help.

“I want to be a voice for the oppressed,” Southern said.

To begin to get to know the needs of the Niles community, Southern said he had so far visited with the Niles Salvation Army.

“I was able to see some of the needs of the community: homelessness, trying to find food, clothing and shelter,” Southern said.

Southern hopes to form partnerships with other churches and aid agencies to help to supply resources for those in need, including making plans for a clothing drive or food pantry as a start.

Additionally, Southern said he wants to help bolster family relationships for the church and encourage more youth to become members of the congregation.

“That’s what it is all about, is to be refreshed, renewed and revived,” Southern said.